Light-print (blue-print) machine



C. L. FUNTAN LIGHT PRINT (BLUE PRINT) MACHINE Filed 001;. l5. 1927 @awww/sea Patented Dec. V17A,l 1929 A`f UNITED STATES CHARLES L. FUNTAN, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY LIGHT-PRINT (BLUE-PRINT) MACHINE Application filed October 15, 1927. Serial No. 226,400.`

This invention relates to light-printing machines and its object is to provide an apparatus of this class which will avoid the use of 'the expensive `and easily breakable glasscylinder lcommonly forming one of the coactive means to keep the two sheets-sensitized and tracing or image sheetsflat while passing through the machine or the belts or aprons sometimes used asa substitute for the cylin- D der. Certain other adi'fantages will be here Vinafter pointed out.

` In the drawing: p

Fig. 1 isa diagrammatic side elevation of one form of the apparatus;

Fig. 2. is a fragmentary side elevationof such form;

Fig. Qaafragmentary elevation as seen from the right in Fig. 2, with apart of the frame in section; y"and y Figs. 3'and 4 diagrammatic side elevations of two other forms.

Around any cylinder 1 (Fig. 1) is arranged amulti-barred means whose bars 2 are cylindrical and here both spaced from each other and transparent and revoluble on their own axes and all have their axesparallel with the axis of the cylinder; these bars form rollers which coact withthe surface of the cylinder to grip the two image and tracing sheets go marked Tracing" and Sens Paper, which may be fed between the cylinder and the i series of bars over a table 3.k

The operation is simple.

The tracing, lying on top of the sensitized paper, is placed on said table or feeding board 3 and shifted to the approach of the slow rotating cylinder 1 and rotating rollers 2. As soon as the tracing and sensitized paper slide between the cylindrical 1 and the first roller 2 they are drawn to the next roller by friction and all' succeedig rollers, during which time they hug the cylinder with firmI pressure, finally leaving the machine atthe i last roller. The pressure may be obtained by springs 4 interposed between a part 7 of the frame of the apparatus and adjusting nuts 8 screwed onto the threaded stems of bearing members 5 in which the trunnions of the 5o rollers are journaled, said stems being slidable in the frame part 7 substantially radially of cylinder 2. i

*The rollers 2 can be driven by the friction of the cylinder 1 (and rollers) or more positively `by gears. The driving gear is placed 55 on the shaft ofthe cylinder 1, and every roller 2 is supplied with a pinion gear. The pitch lines harmonize to the diameters of cylinder 1 and rollers 2. v)Vhile the tracing and sensitized paper are passing through the above operation -they are being affected by the light of electric arc lamps 6, mercury tubes or light of any kind. The advantage of this construction is the omission of the expensive breakable glass 105 cylinder and the perishable ribbons or belts used in other blue print machines.V My makchine affords better contact between the tracing and sensitized paper on account of its convexedposition or form. Y

My'machine can also be built as a double machine Fig. `1 to make the lights more economical.

Another construction of my machine is indicated in Fig. 3. This is an upright or .Y vertical machine. The rotating glass rollers 1a are placed in a semicircle, one of 'the rollers Y2ifbeing a driving roller Vwhich is united with rollers 1zt by an endless belt or by ribbons 9. i

In the center is an electric arc lamp 3 which moves up and down. The tracing and the sensitized paper is fed in at the point (A) and taken around the rotating glass rollers by "the travelling belt or'ribbon, leaving the machine at point (B).

Figure 4 indicates my machine as a horizontalmachine similar to Fig. 1. There are three rollers 1". One of them' is a driving roller. The glass rollers 2b are placed so that they are lighted by electric arc lamps 3, or

mercury tubes or any other light.

The tracing and sensitized paperV enter at point (A) and leave the machine atA point (B). The sensitized paper and tracing are exposed under the same condition just as at machine Figure 1. f

The machine Fig. 4 can also be'constructed as a double machine as indicated in Fig. 1. p

The tracing, which glides over the semiglass cylinder, causes the glass itself to become rough in time. This makes wear and tear on the tracing inevitable. The rotating glass rollers on my machine avoid all this.

Glass cylinders used on present day blue print machines become dirt spotted. Defects also appear in the glass itself. These defects in turn appear on the light print,fbe'cause`the spot, or spots, remain in the same place during the printing operation, thus casting a shadow on the paper continually. The rotating rollers indicated in my machine change their position to the paper constantly, so that should there be a speck of any 4kind on the glass rollers, it will practically leave no trace on the print. Furthermore, the light which, on my machine, strikes the tracingan-d sensitized paper direct, because of -the space betweenthe rollers, gives it an added advantage. The invention will beaccomphshed 1f,fhav ing a baclnngineans (as thecylinder 1n Figs.

`l and ..2 or the belt in Figs. Sand 4) to support the face-to-face-related sensitized and tracing or image sheets with the yformer adjoining said means, there is multi-barred lneans between ywhichand the first means the `two sheets are edgewise movable and which has its bar portions (as', 1fL or 2b) revoluble on their own longitudinal axes and substantially-parallel and closely contiguous to each ot-her,-so`that'the sheets are kept in close contact with each other throughout their area, or form the sole support lfor said sheets opposed to the backing means and each cooperating With said firstmeans to grip'thevsheet and 'such bars are transparent or at least translucent, to'permit the light "to reach the image sheet. By making the bar-portions revoluble on theirown axes I avoidscratchingor otherwise mutilating the image sheet landstreakin'g the 4same withparticles or substances that may alight thereon, besides easing-the passage ofthe 'two sheets and reducing` the chance of causing one tobe shifted relatively to the other; by intergearing them in some way, as independently of the 4backing means or by gearing them all lwith the 'backing means, these results are insured.

While the `device lllustratedand described Ain the attached specifications embodies the preferred applications 'of my invention, it .is possible to alter the construction and features 'shown' and described Without departing from -thespirit of myinvention, and I do not desire nation ofbacking-meanstosupport the faceto-face-related sensitized --and image sheets with the former adjoining 'said means and fa multi-barredm'eans between which andthe first'means the two sheets are gripped Vand edgewise movable having lits -bar 'portions Y translucent and substantially parallel to and closely contiguous to each other and each revoluble on its own longitudinal axis and cooperating with said first means to grip the two sheets.

2. In a light-printing machine, the combination of backing means to support the faceto-face-related sensitized and image sheets with the former adjoining said means and a multi-barred means between which and the `first means the two sheets are gripped and edgewise movable having its bar portions translucent and substantially parallel to and closely contiguous to each other and each revoluble on its own longitudinal axis and cooperating with said lirst means to grip the two sheets, said bar portions being intergeared to rotate together.

3. `In a light-printingmachine, the combination of backing meansto support the faceto-face-related sensitized and image sheets with thevformer adjoining said means and a multi-barred means between which and said surface the two sheets are gripped and edgewise movable having its bar portions translucent and close to each other and constituting the sole support for said sheets opposed to the first meansand each rev'oluble on its own longitudinal axis and cooperating with said first means to grip the two sheets.

1l. In a light-printing machine, the combination of backing means to support the faceto-face-related sensitized and image sheets with the former adjoining said means and a multi-barred means between whichand said surface the two sheets are gripped and edgewise movable having itsbar portions translucent and close to each other and constituting thesole support for said sheets opposed to the first means and each revoluble onits own longitudinal axis and cooperating with said first vmeans to Vvgrip the two sheets, the 'second means being geared 'with the respective bar CHARLES L. FUNTAN.

portions. 

